Adult ; Aspergillosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Diseases ; microbiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Vocal Cords ; pathology

Adult ; Chondrosarcoma ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; Sphenoid Sinus

With the significant and continuous growth of the research and application of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) all over the world, the demand for medical information services has been increasing correspondingly. However, the barriers of accessing and utilizing non-English literature, and the barrier of language have blocked English speaking clinicians and researchers of CAM from obtaining high quality and authoritative medical evidence from the non-English medical resources. This article, with introducing the UCLA Information Center for East-West Integrative Medicine, will demonstrate a new collaborative mode of integrative medicine information service between China and the US, and discuss the perceived challenges.
China ; Complementary Therapies ; Information Services ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Integrative Medicine ; Language ; United States

OBJECTIVETo test the immunoglobulin free light chain (FLC) from nasal secretion(s) and serum of patients with allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis for the purpose of exploring the possible immunological mechanism.

METHODSSixty consecutive patients were selected between September and December in 2009, involving 30 patients with allergic rhinitis and 30 patients with non-allergic rhinitis, diagnosed by symptoms, signs, SPT and sIgE. Thirty volunteers was chosen as health control (HC). ELISA was used to detect the total IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), mast cell tryptase (MCT), κFLC, λFLC in nasal secretion and serum. The data was statistically analyzed by SPSS 17.0 software.

RESULTSAccording to the VAS scores, the nasal symptoms of AR and NAR, including sneeze, nasal discharge, nasal obstruction and nasal itching were compared. There was no statistical difference (t value was 1.189, 0.741, 0.758, 0.797, respectively, P < 0.5); In serum, κFLC, λFLC, IgE, ECP & MCT were increased in NAR compared to HC (P < 0.05); λFLC was increased in NAR compared to AR group (P < 0.05), κFLC and ECP were increased in AR. There was no significant difference between AR and NAR (P < 0.05); In nasal secretion, κFLC, λFLC, IgE, ECP and MCT were increased in AR and NAR compared to HC, and the ECP and IgE were significantly increased in AR compared to NAR (P < 0.05). ; In nasal secretion, the FLCs revealed a significantly higher correlation with MCT (r value was 0.518 and 0.484, P < 0.01), and in serum revealed a significant correlation with ECP (r value was 0.343 and 0.342, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSImmunoglobulin free light chain takes part in the path of physiological process of allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis with the immunological mechanism.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bodily Secretions ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; blood ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose ; immunology ; Rhinitis ; blood ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; blood ; immunology ; Tryptases ; blood ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare and analyze the clinical characteristics in patients with hyperreactive non-allergic rhinitis (HNAR) and allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODSA questionnaire survey on AR and HNAR patients between January and August 2009 was conducted. The clinical data of 298 AR patients and 100 HNAR patients were analyzed, including gender, age distribution, seasonal, clinical symptom and induced factors.

RESULTSThe number of male patients was more than female in AR, while in NAR, the number of female patients was more than male (χ(2) = 6.415, P = 0.01). The highest morbidity age in AR was teenagers, aged between 10 - 19 (χ(2) = 12.772, P = 0.00), while in HNAR, the highest morbidity age was middle-aged and youth, aged between 30 - 39 (χ(2) = 51.533, P = 0.00). The main onset seasons in AR was autumn, while there was no seasonal diversity in HNAR. The main allergen in AR was mugwort and ragweed, consistent with the vegetative cover characteristic in Jilin province. The main classification of AR was moderate-severe persistent (χ(2) = 123.991, P = 0.00), while the main classification of HNAR was moderate-severe intermittent (χ(2) = 97.420, P = 0.00). The clinical symptoms were significantly different between AR and HNAR except rhinocnesmus (all P < 0.05). There was consistency about non-specificity induced factors in AR and HNAR (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere were significant differences between AR and HNAR in sex, age, classification and seasons. The severity of clinical symptoms in AR was higher than that in HNAR except sneezing and gasping. There was consistency about induced factors in AR and HNAR.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis ; classification ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Rhinitis, Vasomotor ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Seasons ; Sex Distribution ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the basic clinical features of non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) in age, sex, incentives, and the effect of treatment with combined intranasal steroids and antihistamines.

METHODSOne hundred consecutive NAR patients were included in this study and the age, gender, predisposing factors and clinical symptoms were analyzed. Combined intranasal steroids and antihistamines used for 8 weeks, the symptoms were recorded before and after treatment with visual analogue scale(VAS) score as the assessment of treatment effects. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSNinety-three NAR patients were adults, and the sex ratio was 1:1.2 (male:female), and the peak age incidence was between 30 - 39 years old. The main nasal symptoms were sneezing (96 cases), rhinorrhea (88 cases), nasal blockage (72 cases) and nasal itching (69 cases). The symptoms of eye and respiratory tract were always accompanied as eye itching (49 cases), tears (32 cases), congestion (22 cases), swelling (13 cases), cough (21 cases), suffocation (19 cases), chest compression (13 cases), wheezing (10 cases); Seventy-nine (79.0%) patients could indicate at least one kind of incentives, the temperature change (54 cases), dust (28 cases), irritating odor (21 cases) was the main incentive of NAR. Forty-seven patients completed the combined treatment of intranasal steroids and antihistamines, 38 (80.9%) patients were satisfied with the result with all symptoms relieved except wheezing (P < 0.05), but 36 patients had the NAR returned when they were exposed with the predisposing factors in the coming year; the remaining 9 (19.1%) patients failed the treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical features of NAR were as follows: adult constituted the main patient population, women were slightly more than man but with no difference between genders; sneezing and nasal discharge were the main clinical symptoms, always more than 1 incentives. The combination of intranasal steroids and antihistamines could control the most of clinical symptoms.

Administration, Intranasal ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Histamine Antagonists ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Histamine H1 Antagonists ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlations between MELD score and left ventricular function in patients with end-stage liver disease.

METHODSA total of 92 patients who prepared for orthotopic liver transplantation from January 2002 to May 2008 were enrolled in this study. Of these Patients, 75 were males and 17 were females, and the mean age was 50.3+/-9.5 years; 85 were cirrhosis, 7 were cirrhosis with primary liver cancer. Preoperative information, including biochemical parameters, coagulation parameters, indicators of hepatitis virology, two-dimensional echocardiography and electrocardiogram were collected. According to MELD (the Model for End-stage Liver Disease) scoring system, these subjects were categorized into three groups: MELD score is less than or equal to 9 points (31 cases, 33.7%); 10 is less than or equal to MELD score is less than or equal to 19 points (45 cases, 48.9%); MELD score is more than or equal to 20 points (16 cases, 17.4%). The relationships between MELD score and classification and cardiac function were determined by chi-square test, analysis of variance, rank sum test and correlation analysis, et al.

RESULTSMELD score was significantly correlated with left atrial diameter (LAD), interventricular septum thickness (IVST), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), aortic flow (AF), cardiac output (CO), QRS interval (QRSI) and corrected QT interval (QTc) (r = 0.317, 0.341, 0.228, 0.387, 0.325, 0.209 and 0.347, respectively; P value less than 0.01, respectively); except QRSI, these variables and left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) were also correlated with INR (a MELD component) (r = 0.282, 0.319, 0.322, 0.435, 0.275, 0.320 and 0.237, respectively; P value less than 0.01, respectively); LAD, LVEDD, AF, CO and QTc were correlated with serum total bilirubin (r = 0.241, 0.219, 0.357, 0.246 and 0.253, respectively; P value less than 0.05, respectively); IVST and E/A ratio (A blood flow [from left atrium to left ventricular] velocity ratio between early diastole [E wave] and late diastole[A wave] ) were correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.216 and -0.343; P value less than 0.05 and 0.01); the proportion of E/A is less than or equal to 1 in all subjects was 46.7% (43/92), and 48.4% (15/31), 35.6% (16/45) and 75.0% (12/16) in each group, besides, there was statistically significant difference between 10 is less than or equal to MELD score is less than or equal to 19 points group and MELD score is more than or equal to 20 points group (X2 = 7.359, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONSThere are different degrees of left ventricular structure, function and electrophysiological changes in patients with end-stage liver disease, these anomalies also will be increased with the MELD score increasing.

Adult ; End Stage Liver Disease ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Liver Failure ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation between two serum specific IgE and skin prick test (SPT) for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.

METHODSTwo hundred and sixteen patients were referred to the allergist for a suspected allergic rhinitis between June and October in 2009. Patients were classified as positive for inhalant allergy if they had a positive clinical history and a related positive SPT for the suspected inhalant allergen. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS13.0 software.

RESULTSOne hundred and fifty-eight patients had a positive SPT, comparing with the SPT, the diagnostic indexes (accuracy, sensitivity, specificity) of the ImmunoCAP system and the AllergyScreen system were 0.810 and 0.819, 0.872 and 0.780, 0.741 and 0.862 respectively. The accuracy was similar between the two systems (χ(2) = 0.112, P > 0.05). The ImmunoCAP system had a higher sensitivity (χ(2) = 7.361, P < 0.05). The AllergyScreen system had a higher specificity (χ(2) = 10.222, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis data supported the use of ImmunoCAP system and AllergyScreen system to identify potentially significant individual allergens in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. The ImmunoCAP system had a higher sensitivity. The AllergyScreen system had a higher specificity. The AllergyScreen system can be used as a complementary with the ImmunoCAP system.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDInterleukin-l7 (IL-17), which exerts strong pro-inflammatory effects, has emerged as an important mediator in inflammation-associated cancer. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between IL-17 and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), and the correlation of the microvessel density in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

METHODSHistopathological observations and immunohistochemistry staining for IL-17, CD68, and CD34 were performed on 72 specimens (32 cases of LSCC, 20 cases of adjacent tissues of carcinoma as controls, and 20 cases of chronic hypertrophic laryngitis). Double immunohistochemical staining was done to determine which cells expressed IL-17. Real-time quantitative PCR determined the mRNA expression of IL-17. ELISA was used to detect the expression of the serum level of IL-17 in the three groups.

RESULTSThe inflammation response had increased in LSCC. Overexpression of IL-17 and CD68 protein were seen in LSCC (P < 0.01). The expression of IL-17 was different between well and poorly differentiated LSCC (P < 0.01). The IL-17 expressing cells were mainly located in macrophages (CD68(+)/IL17(+)) as demonstrated by double immunohistochemical staining. IL-17 expression significantly correlated with high microvessel density (CD34(+)) in LSCC (P < 0.05). Relatively higher mRNA expression levels of IL-17 were seen in LSCC compared to the controls (P < 0.05). The serum expression of IL-17 was similar among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIL-17 was expressed by TAMs, and IL-17 may significantly correlate to the differentiation and angiogenesis in the development of LSCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-17 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and pathological features, diagnosis and treatment of Castleman disease (CD).

METHODSClinical features and related information on diagnosis and treatment of eight cases of CD were retrospectively analyzed. The size of involved lymph nodes ranged from (2 cm x 2 cm x 3 cm) - (4 cm x 3 cm x 2 cm). The lymph nodes were found in level I (1 case), level II (3 cases), level III (3 cases) and level IV (1 case). CT examination in eight patients showed the lesions manifested as ellipse soft masses. Dynamic contrast CT scan in four patients showed ring-enhanced area around the masses. Blood routine examination in eight patients were generally normal, with six patients had mild anemia.

RESULTSBased on the clinical classification, all lesions in this group were localized CD. Histopathology indicated that all lesions were of hyaline-vascular type. After surgery, there was no recurrence during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with localized CD mainly have lymphadenectasis in a single location. The CT scan can give some evidence. Surgery should be given first priority.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Castleman Disease ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult